Questions tagged [reference]
A mention, allusion, citation, or homage to other works.
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101 views
When did Martin Scorsese say “the most personal is the most creative”?
In his acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best Director, Bong Joon-Ho - director of Parasite - famously said that "the most personal [filmmaking] is the most creative" and said that ...
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2answers
484 views
What was Agent Smith in “The Matrix” referring to while torturing Morpheus?
[...] Wachowski believers hold it’s possible to offer sweeping social criticism at such a massive scale. “Because of the iconography of V For Vendetta,” says Kuplowsky, citing the Wachowski-written ...
8
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1answer
222 views
Is “black mountain” in S04E05 “Rattlestar Ricklactica” a reference to something?
In Rick and Morty S04E05 - "Rattlestar Ricklactica", Rick and Morty had this conversation:
Morty: I'm dying, Rick. [Groans] I can see the black mountain.
Rick: People who are really dying ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
Are 'the prisoner's card numbers '666' a reference to a certain aspect of the plot? Does it repeat along the series?
In the series "The prisoner" season 1 ep 1 (I only saw it for now), the protagonist, number '6', receives his cards to access services on the island. The scene is the following:
...
12
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1answer
365 views
Which art works are referenced in the Hey Duggee 'Art Badge' episode?
There is an episode of Hey Duggee, a British children's animation, called 'The Art Badge.' The main episodic theme of this piece is the world famous Frieze Art Fair, and different world famous art ...
2
votes
1answer
121 views
Why do they say Adora can't act?
In the 2018 show She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (a reboot of the 1984 show of a similar name), characters will sometimes say that the protagonist, Adora, can't act (sometimes "to save her life").
...
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1answer
59 views
Which Hanna-Barbera franchises are featured in “Scoob!”?
I haven’t seen the new Scooby-Doo movie (Scoob!), just enough of the trailer to know that Blue Falcon and Dick Dasterly are in it. My question is how many other Hanna-Barbara franchises are there in ...
12
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1answer
4k views
Is the phrase “Zowie, I'm young!” a reference?
In Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 6, Episode 8, title He Said, She Said, Captain Holt says the phrase
Zowie, I'm young!
to Terry and Boyle upon discovering the Disco Strangler is still alive (around ...
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3answers
152 views
Have the Cloverfield films drawn from Half-Life or earlier base material about aliens invading from a portal?
After watching all Cloverfield movies, it seems like the principal idea of humans bringing in several alien species thru a portal inadvertently has very similar structure as the story of the video ...
4
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0answers
96 views
Is this unknown character meant to be an allusion to a Six?
While recently rewatching the HBO re-imaged TV series, Westworld, I noticed in the second season two episode titled, Reunion, the camera follows the back of this character dressed in a white dress ...
5
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2answers
2k views
Meaning of the 'single white lighting bolt on black background' symbol in JoJo Rabbit?
There were two different 'single lightning bolt' symbols.
The first on is a badge awarded within the hitlerjugend afaik:
The second one has different colors and is portrayed on a flag. What's its ...
6
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0answers
77 views
A strange coincidence with the name of the victim in True Detective Season 1
In True Detective season 1, the murdered woman whose case Rust and Marty take on in 1996 is called Dora Lange, a name remarkably similar / practically identical to the real life great Depression-era ...
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0answers
65 views
Is this line delivered by Arsenio Hall an homage to a film, made 12 year prior?
Below are excerpts of these two screenplays. The delivery of the lines suggests that John Landis and crew (of Amazon...) may have been paying homage to the Philip Marlowe noir detective drama of a ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
Is this scene with Djarin and the Child an allusion to a scene in E.T.?
As many might know, it's not uncommon to see references between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg works in each other's films, whether it be Star Wars' R2-D2 & C-3PO hieroglyphs in Indiana Jones: ...
7
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3answers
3k views
What are the masks and droids in “The Mandalorian” intro?
The Mandalorian intro shows a set of masks and droids that are famous throughout the Star Wars universe.
I've recognized a few, but not all. In order,
Darth Vader, ...
2
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0answers
135 views
Shared imagery - Blade Runner & Man in the High Castle
Spoilers for Man in the High Castle season 4, beware.
Of course, both are adaptations of stories by Philip K Dick, so it wouldn't be unexpected that the film-makers might acknowledge that in some ...
13
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1answer
233 views
Are there any references in the movie 'Jason Bourne' that acknowledge the continuity of 'The Bourne Legacy'?
The Bourne Legacy is the 4th film in the Bourne series but without Matt Damon. It tells a parallel story of a different kind of enhanced agent, while referencing the continued developments of ...
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0answers
42 views
Was Ted Levin playing Bill Primm an easter egg?
In Ray Donovan S3E1, We see Micky (Chip) is now in Primm (State line) where he works at Buffalo Bill's casino which sets to stage for events to come.
When the rich guy pulls up to the gas pump, we ...
5
votes
1answer
12k views
“I George Brent myself” meaning
In Family Guy, season 16, episode 7, Putin is entering Peter's house and declaring he needs the bathroom because he "George Brent himself". I have googled this, as instructed by Peter, but could not ...
6
votes
1answer
230 views
In what ways was “Star Wars” influenced by “The Hidden Fortress”?
I've heard many times that George Lucas got some of his ideas for his 1977 movie Star Wars from Akira Kurosawa's movie The Hidden Fortress. I can see how Tahei and Matashichi could have (in some ways) ...
4
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2answers
772 views
What were the books being burnt in Jojo Rabbit?
Near the start of Jojo Rabbit whilst at the Hitler youth camp, there is a book burning scene. There is a shot where it zooms in on two of the books being burnt in the fire. I didn't recognize the ...
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0answers
305 views
Did my grandfather get a shoutout in Shazam?
Okay, so first a little family history. During the 1940's, my grandfather had a job working for Fawcett Comics answering fan-mail. Specifically, whenever a kid wrote a letter to Captain Marvel, he ...
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1answer
278 views
James Van Der Beek reference in “The Office” TV series
In the 19th episode (The Negotiation) of season 3 of TV Series The Office, Michael sees assistant of Jan and ask her "Were you going to tell me that you hired James Van Der Beek." (time: 22:19)
I ...
7
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0answers
2k views
Meaning behind Agent Coulson's number plate (easter egg?)
At the end of Iron Man 2, we see Coulson arrive in the New Mexico desert in a silver car. We are treated to a somewhat unnecessary close up of the car's number plate.
8RE-2Z1
Everything in the MCU ...
3
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0answers
77 views
Why Gotham Globe became Gotham City Gazette in Crisis?
In Supergirl S05E09 aka Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One we see Batman (1989) universe with Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl). But the newspaper they show was Gotham City Gazette:
Rather then famous ...
6
votes
1answer
893 views
Every Character and show referenced in Crisis On Infinite Earth?
The CW crossover for this year is called Crisis on Infinite Earths and most of the CW shows and characters are seen or said as a reference by someone.
So I am wondering if someone could explain which ...
4
votes
1answer
776 views
Do the symbols used in the TV series Evil, actually exist?
In Robert & Michelle King's latest TV series, Evil, a priest in training, a forensic psychologist/mother of four, and skeptic techie-carpenter/contractor investigate for the Vatican: the potential ...
12
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3answers
11k views
What is the significance/reference of a character repeatedly hitting a piano note?
In Knives Out, when the detectives start investigating the family, Benoit Blanc just keeps hitting a single note on the piano, which builds tension.
I remember there was such technique in other ...
5
votes
1answer
200 views
Name of the role that is neither primary nor support, similar to the dodging guy in Mummy Returns?
In The Mummy Returns, there is a henchman that gets lucky number of times when he dodges a blade/shot meant for him, just to watch another henchman behind him take the hit.
Is there a name for such ...
2
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1answer
1k views
The (potential easter-egg) origins of Calamari Flan in The Mandalorian
Before "The Mandalorian" I had not heard usage of the Mon-Calamari currency known as the Flan. I am curious if there is any information that this may be an easter egg from Favreau.
As Calamari is ...
2
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1answer
500 views
Which war was referenced by Aravind when he said nine countries attacked one country?
7-aum-arivu is an Indian Science fiction martial arts film. It was originally made in Tamil and dubbed to Telugu as Seventh Sense.
Aravind (Suriya) and Subha (Shruti Hassan) escape from Dong Lee after ...
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0answers
103 views
Is evil Missy (“Big Mouth”) a reference to “Us” (2019)?
In Season 2, Episode 2 of Big Mouth ("What Is It About Boobs?"), an evil version of Missy comes out of the mirror:
Is this a reference to the movie Us (2019)? Later in this Big Mouth season there is ...
5
votes
1answer
431 views
Pencils in the ceiling
I've just watched a Castle episode (S07E12) and this (pencils in the ceiling) scene (at 06:05) made me feel nostalgic, and smile.
I know another similar scene from The X-Files [1]. Mulder's office ...
12
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2answers
609 views
Why is Oogie Boogie associated with gambling?
A lot of The Nightmare Before Christmas references different ideas in folklore - for example, Sally tells the future by blowing on a dandelion clock, and of course all the monsters are based on ...
5
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0answers
184 views
Is Count Rugen a nod to going up to eleven?
In This is Spinal Tap Christopher Guest’s character Nigel Tufnel has amplifiers with knobs that can be set to eleven. In The Princess Bride Guest plays Count Tyrone Rugen who, with a sixth finger on ...
8
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2answers
15k views
Meaning of “Never get involved in a land war in Asia” in The Princess Bride?
The clip below of the Battle of Wits scene from The Princess Bride (IMDB), the character Vizzini (Wallace Shawn) says:
You’ve fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous is never ...
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0answers
310 views
Is this sequence in “Star Trek” (2009) a reference to a Hoth sequence from “The Empire Strikes Back”?
In the Kelvenverse timeline, which begins in Star Trek (2009), there is a sequence where alter-Spock attempts to rid himself and the Enterprise crew of alter-James T. Kirk, after getting off to a ...
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0answers
66 views
Is Satine's Pink Diamond Dress inspired by Glinda's Dress from The Wizard of Oz?
In Baz Luhrmann's 2001 tragic romantic musical extravaganza, Moulin Rouge, there is one number in particular when Satine (Nichole Kidman) performs and she is wearing a very light pink with silver ...
8
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2answers
812 views
Is there a reference to a particular porn movie opening night?
In Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, when Sharon Tate and her friends are arriving at El Coyote towards the end of the movie, there is a crowd noise coming from a pornographic theater and Sharon Tate ...
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0answers
36 views
What's the significance of the book Bonnie is reading?
I'm currently rewatching the second season of HBO's Big Little Lies. In episode 2.04 titled, Kill Me, Bonnie is reading a book while staying with her mother, whose in the hospital after she had a ...
7
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1answer
166 views
Was the Altair 8800 computer named after the Planet in the movie Forbidden Planet?
I watched the movie Forbidden Planet and it’s an incredible movie, ever year that I watch it, it seems to have more relevance as it is so far ahead of it’s time, and every year we movie closer to the ...
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2answers
3k views
What is the parallel of Day of the Dead with Stranger things?
Stranger Things has a habit of foreshadowing the future in the form of games. In season one it was Dungeons & Dragons and in season 2 it was Dragon's Lair, but in the first episode of season 3 ...
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2answers
3k views
Who is Scoutmaster Kevin?
During this scene in Deadpool 2, after Wade wipes his face, he asks, 'Scoutmaster Kevin?'.
Is he referring to a real-life person? A character in another movie ...
2
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1answer
432 views
Is Mayor in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs inspired by this character?
Is Mayor of Amity from Jaws an inspiration for the mayor in Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs?
I googled for it but didn't find direct evidence.
EDIT: I also noticed some interesting similarities ...
4
votes
1answer
482 views
Why is Harold and Maude mentioned in There's Something About Mary?
I was rewatching There's Something about Mary recently and in the movie they specifically mention Harold and Maude. I've never seen it but I've heard that movie is kind of weird. It is about a boy ...
15
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1answer
6k views
Snap victim memorial reference in Avengers: Endgame
In Avengers: Endgame when Ant-man visits memorial stones, he went through lots of names to go through. But as per the nature of Marvel films, it seems like these names can't be all random.
Is any of ...
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2answers
876 views
Musical references in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
I was recently introduced to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and noticed several musical references that seemed out of place for the setting of the first "part" Phantom Blood.
One of the supporting ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the explanation for the laughing ostrich meme in Family Guy?
In Family Guy, there is a recurrent meme of an ostrich who sarcastically laughs "ha hahhhh":
Is there an explanation or back story for this meme?
4
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0answers
567 views
Indonesian culture and Shadowhunters / The Mortal Instruments series?
I've first remembered Maia giving Simon a free shot on Hunter's Moon, saying 'Gratis' which means 'free' in Indonesian. Magnus Bane is mix white-Indonesian. A Keris, Indonesian artistic weapon, the ...
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0answers
271 views
Is this phrase uttered by Roland Blum a reference to Braindead?
During the first few episodes of the TV series The Good Fight's third season, viewers are introduced to a scrupulous diabolical character named Roland Blum (Micheal Sheen) and whose entry point in the ...
